Cortisone Shots: How They Work and Side Effects (2024)

FAQs

What is the downside of getting cortisone shots? ›

Cortisone shots commonly cause a short-term flare in pain, swelling and irritation for up to two days after the injection. After that, the pain, swelling and irritation should generally lessen. The pain relief can last up to several months.

As Dr. Cunningham explains: “Most orthopedic surgeons don't like to give cortisone shots repetitively because, while it's good to relieve inflammation and pain, it can also lead to degenerative changes of the cartilage lining the joint.” Doctors usually won't give a patient more than three to four shots per year.

Cortisone works by decreasing the inflammatory response in the joint, muscle or other part of the body in which it is being injected. Typically, whenever there is inflammation, there is also a significant pain response. Therefore, if we can decrease the inflammation, we can usually decrease some of the pain.

But try to avoid overexerting your back or doing any high-impact activities (such as running) for a week after your procedure. You may be advised to rest for longer if: You experience moderate cortisone side effects, such as cortisone flare or swelling around the joint.

PRP therapy is a relatively new treatment method that uses the body's natural healing properties to treat joint pain. By injecting platelet-rich plasma directly into the affected joint, doctors are able to reduce pain and improve joint function.

It's rare for steroid injections to cause severe side effects, but it's possible to experience: Infections at the injection site. High blood pressure (hypertension). Fluid retention and increased swelling.

When injected, cortisone affects your body's balance of water and electrolytes. That can cause fluid retention and lead to elevated blood pressure, increasing your risk of heart complications like heart failure or stroke.

Your doctor won't inject steroids if there's an infection in the inflamed area or another part of your body. If a joint is severely damaged, injections probably won't help. If you have a bleeding problem or are taking anticoagulant medications (often called blood thinners), steroid injections may cause bleeding.

Avoiding submerging the injection site: Submerging your injection site can introduce bacteria, leaving you vulnerable to infection. You can shower, but it's best to avoid baths, hot tubs and swimming pools until your injection site has healed.

Is walking good after a cortisone injection? ›

After a cortisone injection, it is strongly advised to rest the affected joint for 24 hours and refrain from doing strenuous activity or exercise for several days. Resting after the injection is vital to reduce inflammation effectively.

The corticosteroids in the injection are formulated as slow-release crystals to give you long-term pain relief. Pain relief usually lasts for several months. However, the presence of these crystals can irritate your joint, which is what creates the sensation of pain around the area of the shot.

It is important to avoid "simple" carbohydrates and concentrated sweets, such as cakes, pies, cookies, jams, honey, chips, breads, candy and other highly processed foods. This helps keep blood sugar low. Limit saturated fat and cholesterol. Choose lean meats, poultry and fish.

After any injection, whether it is Hyaluronic acid (HA), Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) or steroid (cortisone) we recommend you rest for a minimum of 2 days. This is to allow your body to adapt to what we have injected. Occasionally, some people will have a flare after an injection.

Getting too many cortisone shots can cause serious problems like damaged cartilage and bone death. It can also make it harder to manage other conditions such as diabetes.

If successful, an injection can relieve pain for several weeks or even several months, but keep in mind that results vary widely. Your pain may not be relieved at all, or it may go away and never come back. Doctors are not sure why results vary and who will respond best.

Steroid injections can stop the body producing natural hormones, which can be dangerous if you get ill, have an accident or need an operation. There is evidence that this can be a risk for up to one month after just one steroid injection.

Long-term corticosteroid use may be associated with more serious sequel, including osteoporosis, aseptic joint necrosis, adrenal insufficiency, gastrointestinal, hepatic, and ophthalmologic effects, hyperlipidemia, growth suppression, and possible congenital malformations.